During the al-Aqsa Intifada, Israeli
occupation forces and settlers have killed at least 2107
Palestinians in the Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPT). This
figure does not include Palestinians killed while attacking Israeli
targets.[1]
The vast majority of these were unarmed civilians, while 410 (19.5%)
were children under age 17. Some 22,000 Palestinians have been
injured.[2]
Most of these killings fall into several categories:

Demonstrations and
“clashes.” In the first months of the al-Aqsa Intifada
(29 September-31 December 2000), Israeli forces killed approximately
300 Palestinians, 70% of them in the context of demonstrations or
clashes. In the vast majority of instances, demonstrations are
either peaceful or involve throwing stones at Israeli soldiers in
well-fortified positions from considerable distances. Israeli
soldiers frequently respond to demonstrations with excessive force,
including live ammunition or rubber-coated metal bullets, even
without a threat being posed to their lives or the lives of others,
and without first using other means at their disposal. In most of
the handful of cases involving Palestinian gunfire, gunmen were
separate from demonstrators and opened fire after Israeli troops
used live ammunition against unarmed protesters.[3]

Invasions.
Starting in late 2001, the Israeli army began launching major raids
into areas under the jurisdiction of the Palestinian National
Authority (PNA), including cities and densely populated refugee
camps. By 2002, incursions had become a daily occurrence. During
the first 6 months of 2002, approximately 68% of killings took place
during invasions of PNA-controlled areas. Tanks, armoured vehicles,
and bulldozers, often backed by combat aircraft, surround and invade
communities, overwhelming any resistance. Incursions have been
accompanied by: indiscriminate shooting, shelling, and bombardment;
mass arbitrary detentions; mass house demolitions; use of civilians
as human shields; attacks on medical workers and journalists; wanton
destruction of and damage to civilian institutions; denial of access
to humanitarian aid, ambulances, and independent observers; and
imposition of curfews.

Indiscriminate
shelling, shooting, aerial bombardment.
Palestinian communities, especially those located near Israeli
settlements and military bases, are frequently subjected to
indiscriminate shelling and shooting of residential areas, in some
places every night. Heavy machine guns and tanks fire into
Palestinian villages and refugee camps, while Apache helicopter
gunships and F-16 fighter planes bombard PNA office buildings in
civilian areas. Such use of force is disproportionate and often
indiscriminate, resulting in deaths and damage and destruction to
many homes.

Assassinations.
Using helicopter gunships, undercover units, and booby-trapped
explosive devices, Israeli occupation forces have killed over 242
Palestinians in operations designed to eliminate Palestinian
activists, including both political leaders and militants. These
assassinations are a form of extra-judicial execution. They take
place without any evidence, trial, or opportunity for appeal. In
almost all cases, arrest is not even attempted. Moreover, Israel
carries out assassinations in ways that show complete disregard for
bystanders; approximately 36.8% of those killed in assassination
operations have been bystanders, including children. As a category
of willful killings, assassinations are grave breaches under the
Fourth Geneva Convention and are thus considered war crimes under
international humanitarian law. Israel’s state-sponsored
assassination policy has been universally condemned by the
international community.

Other willful
killings. Dozens of Palestinians
have been killed in circumstances of complete quiet, while walking
down the street or waiting to pass through checkpoints, without any
violence nearby. A number of Palestinians have also been
extra-judicially executed after being arrested or incapacitated by
Israeli forces. Such willful killings constitute grave breaches of
the Fourth Geneva Convention, and are thus considered war crimes
under international humanitarian law.

Settler
killings. Israeli settlers living
illegally in the OPT have been linked to a number of acts of
violence against Palestinians since 1967. During the al-Aqsa
Intifada, dozens of Palestinians have been killed by Israeli
settlers, and more injured or beaten. Israeli authorities, who
provide generous economic incentives to settlers as well as
automatic weapons for their “protection,” have failed to adequately
investigate such acts and punish those responsible.

In the hundreds of cases of Palestinians
killed by Israeli occupation forces or settlers since the start of the
al-Aqsa Intifada, the Israeli government routinely fails to
investigate and prosecute those responsible for killings, and in
none of these cases has compensation been paid to Palestinian victims
or their families. This has created a climate of impunity
amongst Israeli soldiers, settlers, and police.